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Iran 'starts implementing' IAEA measures

The head of UN's nuclear agency says Tehran has begun cooperating over its nuclear programme days before deadline.

18 Aug 2014 13:44 GMT

IAEA chief Amano says Iran has a 'firm commitment' to cooperate with the UN agency [AP]

Iran has begun implementing nuclear transparency measures ahead of an August 25 deadline agreed with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the head of the Vienna-based agency has said, a day after his visit to the Iran's capital, Tehran.

"The implementation of five [IAEA nuclear] measures have started," IAEA director-general Yukiya Amano said at Vienna airport on his return from Tehran.

"I expect that progress will be made over the next week."

The implementation of five [IAEA nuclear] measures have started

Yukiya Amano, the director general of the IAEA.

Japanese diplomat’s statement came a day after he made remarks on Iran’s "firm commitment" to cooperate with the IAEA's long-running inquiry into the country’s disputed nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted Majid Takht-Ravanchi, one of Iran's main negotiators, as saying that his country was committed to securing a nuclear agreement with world powers but would not sign one "at any price".

Iran and the P5+1, consisting of permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, signed an interim deal last November and are in discussions to secure a more permanent accord. The target date for a final deal has been put back to November 24.

Iran's political negotiations with P5-1 is a separate process from the inquiry of IAEA, which Iran is a member of, meaning it assures that it will not possess nuclear weapons.

"We are entering with goodwill into further negotiations with the P5+1 group and we want to reach an agreement... but we are not willing to pay any price," Takht-Ravanchi reportedly said.

"If the other side also shows goodwill we can reach an agreement by November 24."